San Diego State women’s basketball announced last week that Izzy Navarro, a 2022 Cathedral Catholic graduate, transferred to the Aztecs from Point Loma Nazarene after earning WBCA Honorable Mention All-American honors last season.
The move from Point Loma to SDSU is about 13 miles. Navarro’s daily trip to Cathedral Catholic was considerably more difficult.
Growing up in Tijuana, Navarro crossed the border each morning for school in Del Mar. The trip took about two hours, and after basketball practice she often didn’t get home until after 8 p.m.
“It was mostly my parents who made that sacrifice for us,” Navarro said. “In the moment, I didn’t really notice how big it was until I started driving myself. I really can’t thank them enough — waiting in line at the border, driving us that far, waiting until 6, 7, 8 p.m. until practice was over, then driving us back and making us dinner.”
“I’d tell my dad, ‘I don’t even feel like going to school today,’” she added. “But it was the same lecture every day: ‘You are literally closer to getting your college degree than you were when you started kindergarten. You have to grind it out.’ That’s what kept me motivated.”
Navarro, a 5-foot-7 guard, had a standout junior season at Point Loma. She averaged 11.7 points, 6.8 assists and 4.2 steals per game while leading NCAA Division II in steals and ranking second nationally in assists.
Her 203 assists were the second-most in a single season in Point Loma history, while her 125 steals ranked third. She became just the second Sea Lion to earn NCAA All-American honors and was named to the All-PacWest first team and DII CCA All-West Region second team. She helped Point Loma win 21 games and reach the NCAA West Regionals.
SDSU has now added the Division II steals leader in each of the past two seasons, with Navarro following Nala Williams.
Navarro is one of four guards SDSU has added through the transfer portal this offseason. The Aztecs also return seven players, including four starters, and have three incoming freshmen after winning the Mountain West regular-season championship and tying the program record with 27 victories.
“It’s always great to add a local kid to the program,” SDSU head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson said. “Izzy is a proven scorer and facilitator and adds depth to our guard rotation.”
Staying close to home was part of Navarro’s decision.
“I chose to transfer to San Diego State because of the amazing coaches, the facilities and to stay close to home,” Navarro said.
Navarro describes her game as “gritty.” Former Point Loma assistant coach Grace Ricafranca saw that toughness throughout the season.
“She has a built-in toughness,” Ricafranca said. “Her long-term commitment to things she’s passionate about really shows. She goes in 100% when she finds something she cares about, and it’s been evident all year. She shows up for her teammates, takes feedback, makes adjustments from practice to practice, and stays fully engaged.”
At Cathedral Catholic, Navarro scored more than 1,500 points, earned first-team all-league honors three times and was a two-time first-team CIF honoree. She helped the Dons win two CIF Open Division championships and four Western League titles.
With the Dons, she also played alongside her younger sister, Gizel, and future UConn standout Ice Brady.
Navarro spent her first two collegiate seasons at Concordia, where she was named PacWest Freshman of the Year in 2023-24. She averaged 15.0 points, 2.8 assists and 2.3 steals across 53 games there. As a sophomore, she averaged 16.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.8 steals and earned All-PacWest second-team honors.
“When she entered the transfer portal, it was kind of a no-brainer for us to pursue her and see if she’d be a good fit for our program,” Ricafranca said. “She’s a three-level scorer — she can finish at the rim, hit mid-range, and shoot from the perimeter — and her ability to create for others makes her a threat on all cylinders offensively.
“If a defender comes over a ball screen or collapses in the post, she finds the open teammate and delivers. Her greatest strength is her ability to read the floor and make great decisions. She’s been a tremendous leader for our team.”
It’s another step in Navarro’s basketball journey.
This time, she’s staying home.
